A Consideration of Chastity
By
Robert John Colon

1. Perhaps many of us hear the word “chastity” and think of the word “no.” Chastity does say “no” to certain actions; this is true. But chastity is not only about “not acting in this way.” In fact, chastity might be thought of as an act – a nonstop act of integration of sexuality within oneself. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being.” (1) Integration can be given this meaning: “the process, the act, or an instance of forming or uniting into a whole”. You might say that chastity is the act of combining into a complete whole of sexuality (in oneself), embracing all of sexuality, and not separating sexuality into parts. In the words of the Catechism, “Sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, [affectivity can mean passion, feeling, emotion, etc.] the capacity to love and to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of communion with others.” (2)

2. The Catechism says: “As a result of original sin, human nature is… inclined to sin (This inclination is called ‘concupiscence.’).” (3) Isn’t this why we might at times want to reduce sexuality to only affecting one aspect of the person? We might be tempted to reduce sexuality to affecting only our senses or our emotions, or only affecting the capacity to procreate. Sexuality can indeed be “the sign, place and language of love, that is, of the gift of self and acceptance of another, in all the other’s richness as a person” (4). But it is also true that sexuality can become “the occasion and instrument for self-assertion and the selfish satisfaction of personal desires and instincts.” (5) This may seem fine. But, in the words of the Catechism, “Sexuality, in which man's belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman.” (6)

3. To understand all this, it might be helpful to consider what Pope John Paul II said in his Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, “As an incarnate spirit, that is a soul which expresses itself in a body and a body informed by an immortal spirit, man is called to love in his unified totality. Love includes the human body, and the body is made a sharer in spiritual love. Christian revelation recognizes two specific ways of realizing the vocation of the human person in its entirety, to love: marriage and virginity or celibacy…. Consequently, sexuality, by means of which man and woman give themselves to one another through the acts which are proper and exclusive to spouses, is by no means something purely biological, but concerns the innermost being of the human person as such…. The total physical self-giving would be a lie if it were not the sign and fruit of a total personal self-giving, in which the whole person, including the temporal dimension, is present: if the person were to withhold something or reserve the possibility of deciding otherwise in the future, by this very fact he or she would not be giving totally.” (7)
4. As many of us may know, living our sexuality in a chaste way can involve effort, at times an intense effort. We aren’t born with any chastity gland located next to the spleen, are we? Chastity does involve effort. But chastity is not only about effort. “Chastity… is also a gift from God, a grace… The Holy Spirit enables one whom the water of Baptism has regenerated to imitate the purity of Christ.” (8) Let us then turn to God. If this is what we have been doing, and yet are falling into sins against chastity, let us not despair, but keep trying; and let us trust in God’s Mercy and Grace. Let us come to the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation frequently (and as soon as possible when we are in the state of mortal sin) and let us turn above all to the Mass. Let us, though, also ask the prayers of Mother Mary, the Saints, and the Angels. Be especially dedicated to praying the Rosary. (If an entire Rosary seems overwhelming right now, one might begin with only a part of the Rosary, such as one Decade of the Rosary each day.) Let us not forget how helpful fasting can be. (Even “small” sacrifices once or twice a week can help.)
5. Dear Brothers and Sisters, “remember, above all, that Jesus Christ is with you and in you.” (9) In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “Even in the ‘valley of darkness’ of which the Psalmist speaks (Ps 23:4), while the tempter prompts us to despair or to place a vain hope in the work of our own hands, God is there to guard us and sustain us.” (10)
O Mary, Mother most chaste, pray for us. (11)

(1) Catechism of the Catholic Church (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994; English translation for the United States of America – United States Catholic Conference, Inc.–Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994), number 2337.
(2) Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 2332.
(3) Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 418.
(4) John Paul II, The Gospel of Life, number 23, March 25, 1995 (Dayton, Ohio: One More Soul, 2004).
(5) John Paul II, The Gospel of Life, number 23.
(6) Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 2337.
(7) Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio, number 11, November 22, 1981, (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_19811122_familiaris-consortio_en.html) (Libreria Editrice Vaticana).
(8) Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 2345.
(9) Pope John Paul II, Address to young people of England and Wales, 23 August 1983, (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/1983/august/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19830823_giovani-inghilterra_en.html) (Copyright 1983, Libreria Editrice Vaticana).
(10) Benedict XVI, Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI For Lent 2006, 29 September, 2005, (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20050929_lent-2006_en.html) (Copyright 2005 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana).
(11) See Litany of Loreto: “Mother most chaste”